issue NINE

the bg issue

season 2003

week Eight


Welcome to the long awaited ninth issue of the BGI. Since the last issue I have another new address and also a new job, with the result that the time I used to devote writing things like newsletters now gets spent sitting on various trains, buses and tubes. So apologies to everyone for not getting a newsletter out earlier, but I've been having trouble adjusting from a life of languor to a life of commuting, special apologies to anyone who has written to me in the last few months – my correspondence is usually pretty poor, and this has just been exacerbated. Email is better if you can (note the new address), because I can get away with reading that at work :). Anyway, on with the show...


Contacts Section


Name

Address

City/County

Postcode

email

Robert Crowther

25 Colman Court, Christchurch Av

London

N12 0DT

[email protected]

Peter Swindells

115 Long Walk, Epsom

Surrey

KT18 5TU

[email protected]

Jerry Ward

50 Desmond Drive, Old Catton

Norwich

NR6 7JN


Richard Appleby

12 Sunningdale Drive, Borough Hill, Daventry

Northants

NN11 4NZ

[email protected]

Neil Arthurton

23 Turnberry Court, Watford

Hertfordshire

WD1 6BE

[email protected]

Martyn Williams

33 Eastern Way, Letchworth,
Hertfordshire
SG6 4PE

[email protected]

Kevan Parrott

11 Hollins Lane, Sheffield

South Yorks.


[email protected]

Derek Barton

75 Alexandra Mews, Tamworth

Staffordshire

B79 7HT


			


I'm aware that the above info may well be out of date by now, contact me if you have new details or wish to be removed from the list. I'm planning the next issue to coincide with wildcard week. For Gameplan related stuff on the web go to 'www.gameplan-pbm.com'. If you want to chat about Gameplan check out the Gameplan Club on Yahoo! at 'uk.clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/gameplan'. We are planning a pub meet before the Superbowl on Saturday February 2nd, we meet at a pub near Holborn tube station in London (whose name escapes me at the minute), send an email or drop me a line at the above address if you fancy chatting about Gameplan AND getting drunk...


Season So Far


AFC East


A tale of two teams once again, while the Bills and Dolphins have struggled gamely to keep up they are clearly not in the same class as the champion Colts and the Jets. New York gained an advantage over their bitter rivals with their week five victory and have not let up the pressure all season. Indy now look hard pushed to retain their division title, but should end up hosting the wildcard game. Buffalo have improved markedly over last season but look to need more defense before they will be challenging for the playoffs in this division.


AFC Central


Houston have usurped the normal pecking order in the Central and are looking good for a division title. Baltimore won't give up their division crown without a fight, but even if the beat the Oilers in week sixteen they will need to overcome their points difference disadvantage. Pittsburgh and Cincy are just there to make up the numbers.


AFC West


Oakland are the big story in this division, Coach Arthurton has turned the team around and, but for a few heartbreaking last minute losses, could easily have been leading the division. Denver are once again in pole position and looking considerably better than last year, if not back up to championship form just yet. Seattle have dropped off dramatically since last year, perhaps a coaching change is imminent? In KC it's same old, same old.


NFC East


New York are doing it with defense once again, although they're not challenging for homefield advantage they look sure to make the playoffs. Washington are their main rivals this year, a new coach has revitalised the franchise – Coach Williams has added some offense to the always strong defense. Philadelphia and Dallas are once again in the also ran category.


NFC Central


Minnesota and Green Bay are once again vying for the division title. The Vikings hold the edge after a solid week five victory but have a considerably tougher run up to the week sixteen rematch, and will be hoping their offense keeps finding ways to put points on the board. The Green Bay defense has been awesome this season and will be chomping at the bit to have another crack at Minnesota. Chicago, last season's surprise package in the playoffs, have fallen apart in the last few weeks. They may still have a surprise in them, but they look a spent force. Detroit bring up the rear once again.


NFC West


Atlanta have been dominant on defense and free scoring on offense, but managed to lose two games that perhaps they should have won. They still have a good chance at homefield advantage, however, and will likely be in a good position to defend their NFC title. San Francisco have emerged as playoff outsiders in recent weeks and could snatch a wildcard if the Redskins falter in the final weeks. Carolina and St Louis are perhaps both a bit better than their record suggests, but no way near good enough to make the playoffs.


League Rankings


These have been prepared by Neil Arthurton (thanks Neil) from a spreadsheet available at www.endzone1.co.uk. The various facets of a teams performance are rated according to a formula, the NFL passer rating is used for the passing, the other s are worked out by similar means. Basically it gives a more accurate picture of efficiency than the yardage totals on the league reports. See the website for more details.


Pos:

Prev.

+/-


Tot Pts

PASS O

rank

RUSH O

rank

KICK

rank

TURN

rank

PASS D

rank

RUSH D

rank

POSS

rank

1

1

0

JETS

28

87.42

8

66.66

3

100.00

1

14

2

70.17

9

45.82

1

8.1

4

2

4

2

VIKINGS

34

88.06

7

66.06

5

91.17

2

9

5

67.38

7

48.98

3

5.54

5

3

2

-1

FALCONS

40

100.56

1

59.33

11

78.05

5

-1

13

58.39

2

50.46

5

14.09

3

4

8

4

COLTS

41

91.82

3

66.15

4

81.42

4

10

4

74.38

12

53.56

8

5.22

6

5

5

0

PACKERS

47

91.65

4

61.59

9

87.02

3

13

3

57.13

1

57.29

13

0.24

14

6

3

-3

GIANTS

53

80.66

10

61.38

10

72.24

9

4

8

64.98

4

50.08

4

4.07

8

7

7

0

OILERS

62

69.54

13

70.68

1

75.75

6

4

8

70.82

10

56.82

12

1.26

12

8

6

-2

BILLS

63

90.51

5

67.22

2

54.79

20

3

10

76.66

14

55.07

11

17.07

1

9

10

1

RAVENS

67

90.03

6

50.05

18

71.75

10

1

11

62.13

3

61.68

17

15.22

2

10

12

2

RAIDERS

69

83.67

9

52.79

15

70.17

11

0

12

65.70

5

53.11

7

2.95

10

11

9

-2

REDSKINS

75

69.44

14

54.42

14

74.82

8

-9

20

66.33

6

51.97

6

4.97

7

12

13

1

49ERS

81

79.19

11

64.54

7

75.18

7

6

7

87.12

21

62.61

19

3.09

9

13

10

-3

BRONCOS

82

96.32

2

49.03

19

64.67

13

24

1

78.82

16

54.95

10

-11.3

21

14

16

2

STEELERS

106

62.66

18

52.11

16

62.54

15

-3

15

78.06

15

57.89

14

0.35

13

15

17

2

DOLPHINS

112

53.74

23

38.94

22

61.53

16

-13

21

73.86

11

48.29

2

-5.04

17

16

14

-2

SEAHAWKS

113

55.97

21

61.92

8

63.93

14

-3

15

84.60

19

60.60

16

-8.39

20

17

21

4

BENGALS

115

67.20

16

65.09

6

56.68

18

-13

21

90.45

23

62.73

20

1.28

11

18

19

1

PANTHERS

116

63.86

17

55.69

13

53.84

23

-2

14

74.73

13

61.72

18

-6.34

18

19

15

-4

RAMS

117

54.87

22

58.23

12

54.25

22

7

6

68.97

8

66.35

24

-12.44

23

20

20

0

COWBOYS

118

69.34

15

43.07

21

42.05

24

-5

17

78.87

17

53.96

9

-1.7

15

21

18

-3

BEARS

122

70.21

12

44.89

20

69.56

12

-6

18

88.57

22

64.65

22

-2.99

16

22

22

0

LIONS

134

56.83

19

51.82

17

54.61

21

-7

19

84.30

18

63.34

21

-6.8

19

23

24

1

CHIEFS

146

56.25

20

31.06

24

60.35

17

-20

24

90.48

24

59.52

15

-12.03

22

24

23

-1

EAGLES

156

48.19

24

37.30

23

54.98

19

-14

23

85.33

20

65.48

23

-15.96

24



Week Fourteen Preview


Game of the Week - Giants at Redskins


These two teams have been in a dogfight for the NFC East title all year, but victory in this one would all but clinch a second consecutive title for New York. But Washington hold a slight points difference advantage and with both teams facing tough games next week, visits from Atlanta and Minnesota respectively, this game will very likely be decisive. Both teams are built around defense, the Redskins have a more explosive offense but have been less consistent. The Giants tend to be a bit more predictable in approach and I feel this will give Washington the edge, but one turnover in a low scoring game could make all the difference. Redskins by 3


Other games: Colts at Bills – Colts by 10; Jets at Dolphins – Jets by 14; Ravens at Bengals – Ravens by 14; Oilers at Steelers – Oilers by 14; Seahawks at Chiefs – Seahawks by 3; Broncos at Raiders – Raiders by 1; Eagles at Cowboys – Eagles by 3; Packers at Lions – Packers by 10; Falcons at 49ers – Falcons by 10; Rams at Panthers – Rams by 3


Week Fifteen Preview


Game of the Week – Broncos at Jets


After a tough season last year the Broncos are back to something resembling their championship form and are once again leading their division. New York, however, look to be the class act of the AFC this season and would be shoo in favourites if not for Denver's propensity in recent years for beating teams they shouldn't have gotten close to. The pressure is on both teams, a win for the Jets will make their week sixteen visit to Indianapolis meaningless, while defeat will leave them having to pull out a win in a hostile environment. Denver are locked in a title race with the Raiders, who have an easier run in. New York start as favourites, but the Broncos may surprise. Jets by 7


Other games: Seahawks at Colts – Colts by 14; Ravens at Bills – Ravens by 3; Oilers at Dolphins – Oilers by 7; Chiefs at Bengals – Bengals by 3; Raiders at Steelers – Raiders by 10; Falcons at Giants – Falcons by 7; Rams at Eagles – Rams by 3; Packers at Cowboys – Packers by 14; 49ers at Bears – 49ers by 7; Panthers at Lions – Lions by 3

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